USS Wadena (SP-158)

USS Wadena (SP-158)

USS Wadena (SP-158) was a converted yacht patrol vessel of the United States Navy during World War I]. She was built in 1891 in Cleveland, Ohio as a steam yacht for Jeptha Homer Wade II of Cleveland and New York City. During her Navy career, Wadena made several trips escorting submarine chasers across the Atlantic Ocean, and, later, patrolling in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Wadena came to the aid of sinking tug Mariner and rescued all of her crew.

During her career as Wade’s personal yacht, she sailed to the Far East in 1895, calling at ports in Japan and China. After the yacht had rescued a Japanese boat in distress, Emperor Meiji attempted to purchase Wadena. Although Wade declined the offers, the ship, after moving on to visit ports in China, was detained for several hours under suspicion of being a Japanese vessel.

Wadena was sold several times after her Navy career ended in 1919, eventually being abandoned and scrapped in 1931.